Star Trek The Next Generation Warps Onto The Pinball Arcade via PSN

Posted on March 19, 2013 by geelw

Farsight Studios just rocks. The small developer has been making quite possibly the best digital recreations of classic pinball tables you’ll ever see (Pinball Arcade) and they’ve been getting them out on assorted platforms with Sony’s PlayStation Network seemingly being the least problematic to produce content for outside of PC, iOS and Android devices. Their latest table should make ST:TNG fans grin like an angry Klingon because it’s not only a great game, it’s packed full of visual and aural notes from the show that will have you losing a few balls if you let yourself get too distracted. And if you’re asking “what’s pinball?”… oooh, you kids. Go find some old coot sitting on a park bench, wake him up with a soft kick as ask away. If you’re not beaten gently on and around the head with a cane, you may come away a bit more educated…

BioShock Infinite TV Spot (Long Version): A Good Week Is Many Miles Away… Look Up!

Posted on March 18, 2013 by geelw

March 26 is what, a week away and 2K Games is finally getting the bigger, more splashy ads for this out in full force. As usual with a game so long awaited and important, I’m not going to go poking around for quickly written reviews or the opinions of friends who blow through this in a day at all. I’m thinking this is yet another one of those deeper than it looks games that deserves a full play on my own time and not some speedy rush through just to make a deadline. I’m gathering Ken Levine and Irrational Games would prefer people take the time to “relax” when they’re not being shot at or otherwise maimed in the game world and check out as much of Columbia as they can survive, as I can see the potential for Easter Eggs galore that take a bit of Sky Hook action, some deft shooting skills or other fun, challenging navigation and/or gameplay to reach. As usual, we shall see, folks… we shall see…

KILLER IS DEAD: Xseed Teases Voices You’ll Hear in Your Head Down the Road…

Posted on March 18, 2013 by geelw

Ha- Xseed Games is really just showing off here, now that they’ve got a nice voice cast lined up for Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture’s upcoming PS3/Xbox 360 action game, KILLER IS DEAD. Despite all the stylized blood spraying all over, I’m betting the farm this is one more love story from Suda, just like the last few games he’s made. As I’ve said previously, the man is a romantic at heart with a really bizarre sense of humor and a love for putting whatever is in his head into the games he cooks up. That’s fine by me, as playing a Grasshopper game is like going to the world’s most innnnnnnteresting amusement park that just so happens to have the strangest arcade you’ll ever step inside. Which is a very good thing indeed, by the way…

VGA 101: More Collection Madness, Badly Shot (For Now)…

Posted on March 17, 2013 by geelw

Nope, I’m not QUITE taking today off, folks. I was just catching up on some games I need to review (the results of which you’ll read shortly). Anyway, to keep you “entertained”, I thought I’d grab my crappy camera and quickly zoom through some stuff in the library (which NEEDS a big reorganization and/or a makeover I can’t afford yet, boo!). Er, you may want to take some Dramamine before viewing this, as it’s probably really fuzzy and moving faster than a caterpillar who’s had a pot of strong coffee. Or like a rat. Made out of a LOT of video games. Squeak, squeak! Eek, eek!

Making of Defiance (7): Amanda & Kenya (And The Places They’ll Take You)…

Posted on March 16, 2013 by geelw

Fans of Showtime’s Dexter and a few other shows she’s been in will recognize Julie Benz from her great work and it looks as if the streak will continue in Defiance. The upcoming syfy series launches eleven days after the PC/PS3/Xbox 360 game tie-in hits, so there will hopefully be enough people playing or hearing about the game to generate a wave of interest in the series. The big fat elephant in the room is quality, but so far, the show and game seem to have it in spades. As always, we shall see… but I say give this one a chance for a season and see where it takes you.

BioShock Infinite: Some Questions Answered And Mysteries Solved For Your Curiosity…

Posted on March 16, 2013 by geelw

Will BioShock Infinite be as well-received as the original? Will we see so many ads for the game that 2K Games breaks some sort of record for spending on a single title? Will Ken Levine ever give a boring interview? All signs point to “yes” or “no”, as my crystal ball is busted and I’ve been called a False Shepard before. Eh, whatever – I’ll be playing this at some point and know I’m going to enjoy it no matter what the jaded flies on the wall say. As for ken and interviews, well… THIS one at BAFTA certainly isn’t dull at all:

Anyway, March 26 is rolling up REALLY quickly and I’m betting a few people call in dead from work just to spend some quality time buried in the story, characters and gameplay Irrational has cooked up…

Saint’s Row IV Trailer: Volition and Deep Silver Make Sure It’s More of What You Want…

Posted on March 15, 2013 by geelw

Mmmmhmmm? OK. That’s sorted out, isn’t it? I certainly think so. Well then, if there were ANY doubts that Deep Silver’s purchase of Volition was going to mean a different direction for the fan favorite franchise, well… here’s proof that the more things change, the crazier they get at the end of the day. More outrageous and DEFINITELY not for the kiddies open world action, goofball weapons, super powers (!) and too much weirdness guaranteed to make any fan fall off the couch and bust a gut twice. OK, let’s move on now that we know all is well. Now, about Summoner III (which NEEDS to be made, grrrr. Letting that go unsold at the THQ auction was a huge mistake that needs to be rectified, I say…)

Lone Survivor Headed to PS3 & Vita. Lock Yourself In, There’s Trouble All Around…

Posted on March 14, 2013 by geelw

I actually hadn’t heard of Lone Survivor until a friend raved about the PC version a little while back. But I’ve just been way to busy to get to the ton of indie games I already have and pushed this one to the back burner. Now, I have a reason to give it a try, as the game is headed to the PS3 and Vita this summer courtesy of superflat games (which is Jasper Byrne) with an assist from London-based studio, Curve (which is a few more people). The game is a retro-looking but decidedly modern survival horror game that can be played in almost any way a player chooses. You can complete the game without firing a shot or go all out and try to dispatch every undead thing you come across. However, your character’s mental state is a bit off (possibly from hunger, thirst and/or lack of rest) and not everything is as it seems. Innnnnteresting, to say the least and given Byrne’s complete love for Sony’s console and handheld, PS3 and Vita owners can expect some nice changes to the game that include Trophies, Cross-Buy and Cross-Play support plus MORE. What’s MORE you ask? Ha! That trick NEVER works here, kids. You’ll see if you click on this PlayStation Blog post…

Is Dollar Dash a Modern Day Bomberman? Hmmmmaybe…

Posted on March 14, 2013 by geelw

dollar dash tiny Yes, yes… just the mention of the late, lamented Hudson Soft’s classic character and game brings a tear to my eye (and nope, that new-ish online game isn’t my thing despite the massive social aspect – or rather because of it. I like to see who’s beating me and vice versa). That said, Kalypso Media and developer Candygun want you to dive into their fast-paced cops & robbers & assorted traps game, Dollar Dash like it’s the new next best thing. Already out on PC via Steam and through Xbox Live Arcade for the 360, the game is finally headed to PSN on March 19. I’ve played the PC version and found it to be fun and funny with tons of hazards to avoid in each stage and while not quite as kawaii as Bomberman, the game is a blast to play. Anyway, go check it out if you have Steam installed and if there’s also a PS3 in your home, boogie on over to PSN next week and snap this up. Hopefully, this will be Vita compatible, but we’ll see, I suppose…

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Site Goes Live: Return To Greenvale (Weirder Version)…

Posted on March 14, 2013 by geelw

Rising Star Games is getting things (and perhaps a few heads) rolling with the official launch of the Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut website. This PS3 exclusive update to the former Xbox 360 exclusive that polarized fans and reviewers with its all-out bizarre tone, somewhat unpolished visuals and gameplay along with plenty of gore is getting an updated version that tweaks and adds many new elements (such as 3D TV and PlayStation Move support) while retaining the completely twisted plot and lead character.

Fans of scary games and/or David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and some of his other films will see an homage or three in this game, but it’s the general mix of offbeat comedy, horror and interestingly disgusting demises that will hook some new players in. Of course, that’s exactly what director Hidetaka Suehiro (Swery65) wants… so you just HAVE to oblige him, right?